Ashley Robinson got more than he bargained for when he tried to deposit some money

I must be a bank clerk’s nightmare, particularly these days when everything is self-serve and above my intelligence level.

I am used to going to BOQ, dumping some cash on the bench and it magically appears in my account. The only input required from me is entering my PIN.

Recently, I had to go to one of the big banks to deposit some cash for business purposes. I was promptly told that I had to use the ATM to deposit.

It became difficult quite quickly, particularly without my glasses on hand.

They did give some help with typing my account number in (probably so I would go away), but I finally got it done.

The next time, I went armed with my glasses but also with two tins of coins weighing about 20kg each.

I did the banking but then got told I had to put the coins in the ATM next to the one I was using.

This time, I needed a card to do it. I couldn’t just put in the account number like the last time.

So back to the car and then back to work to get a card.

I returned panting like a beaten favourite. I got cracking but after about half a tin, the machine stopped and told me to go to another one as it was out of service.

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Of course, I went to ask for help only to be told that the person who was looking after this area was busy. Could I come back in half an hour, they asked.

By this time, I was over carrying the tins around so I asked the young staff member if I could leave my tins near his desk, and he agreed.

On my return – no tins. So I asked someone for help and out came the senior staff member, who first told me that I shouldn’t have left the tins there and, secondly, the young bloke was locked in the strong room guarding the tins.

Then she told me that the reason the machine was jammed was because there was a lolly in there.

“Coins only. No lollies,” I was sternly told.

So, once I knew that, I completed my task with no further drama. As I left, I went looking for the senior staff member, but she was obviously busy or using the Bunnings method of assistance – no visibility.

Whatever bank charges we get hit with these days, in my view, are way overstated.

Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.